Petition calls for repeal of Shandaken Town Board resolution opposing state gun-control law

ALLABEN, N.Y. -- One week after the Shandaken Town Board passed a memorializing resolution against recently adopted New York state gun-control laws, residents opposing the resolution have launched a petition drive to force the board to reconsider that action.

On Feb. 4, the Town Board passed anti-gun-control resolution brought forward by Councilman Vincent Bernstein despite an almost unanimous outcry against it from residents who said the language in the resolution did not reflect the sentiments of the townsfolk.

The motion carried with Bernstein and Councilmen Jack Jordan and Alfred Higley in support. Councilwoman Doris Bartlett voted against the resolution. Town Supervisor Rob Stanley was absent due to illness, but sent a message to the Town Board before the meeting urging his colleagues to reconsider and table the resolution.

Phoenicia resident Nick Alba, a vocal opponent of the measure, quickly launched an Internet-based petition drive calling for the repeal.

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Using Facebook, Alba directs readers to signon.org, a "democracy in action" website, where the petition reads in part:

"We, the undersigned people of Shandaken hereby state our strong objection to Shandaken Town Board Resolution #58-13, the 'Resolution in Support of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.' ... This is a matter of personal conscience and has no bearing on town law. We are not challenging the Second Amendment but do not feel it is proper for the Shandaken Town Board to use the town as a platform to advance individual views on the highly charged topic of gun control. The 'Resolution in Support of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution' does not represent our views, and we call on the Shandaken Town Board to repeal it."

On Monday, the petition had over 200 signatures.

Alba said Monday that the petition would be delivered to the Town Board at its next meeting, set for March 4.